SPF welcomes First Minister's Commitment to Housing with Cabinet Secretary Appointment 

SPF Director, David Melhuish says,

"We welcome the First Minister's decision to place 'Housing at the heart of the Scottish Cabinet' with the appointment of Màiri McAllan MSP as the new Cabinet Secretary for Housing. This significant ministerial reshuffle underscores the Scottish Government's recognition of housing as a key priority."

"The decision to elevate the housing portfolio to a Cabinet Secretary level is a significant move at a time when the much-amended Housing Bill is facing its final stage in the Scottish Parliament. The government must focus on securing parliamentary approval for a Bill that will provide certainty for investors in new sectors such as Build to Rent and Mid Market Rent. This could unlock a pipeline of over 10,000 potential new homes across these tenures. We look forward to engaging with the new Cabinet Secretary to highlight the potential for Scotland of these new models of housing."

"We would also extend our sincere gratitude to Paul McLennan MSP, who has served as the Housing Minister for the past two years and thank him for his active engagement with the industry and his leadership of the Housing Investment Taskforce which provides a direction of travel for Scottish Ministers to leverage in new investment across the housing sector which is essential to address the housing emergency."